The Demonic Games (Disgardium Book #7): LitRPG Series, Dan Sugralinov [the read aloud family TXT] 📗

nose out of your room! If I find out you contacted Sheppard, then my offer will be off the table.”

“Understood, Mr. Jackson. Thank you, Mr. Jackson!”

“Chloe… You prepare the media. All this must be delivered from the proper perspective, understand? Not like the Disgardium Daily after the second day of the Games!”

“That’s my job, Kiran. I’ve spoken to Mr. Katz, reminded him who pays for his publication. Can’t say he was overflowing with joy, but he agreed to follow our recommendations and not do it again.”

“And what about that… what was his name..?”

“The disgraced one?” Chloe said. “Ian Mitchell. He had an unfortunate incident. He had a brain hemorrhage while in his capsule. The medbots arrived in time to save him, but the bleed was extensive. Mr. Mitchell will have to spend some time in the hospital.”

Octius glanced sidelong at Donald. His work? The security officer didn’t so much as twitch an eyelid, just kept studying Hunter’s personal comm.

“Alright,” Kiran nodded. “Guy, will you read a press release, or say it in your own words?”

“Are you sure about this, Kiran?” Guy answered. “Your decision is final?”

“It is. What, do you have doubts?”

“I do. This will explode online. Chloe’s right, the ratings will go sky high, but only today. Tomorrow we’ll lose a large part of our audience, those who never used to watch the Games and joined the streams only thanks to the top Threat.”

“This is not subject to debate, Guy!” Kiran said sharply. “I accept that risk, and will answer to our shareholders personally if I have to.”

“Shame Renato Loyola gave in to weakness…” Chloe sighed. “If it weren’t for that shield, Sheppard would be home by now. Why the moronic nobility?”

“He explained it himself. The plan was dishonorable,” Octius said.

Just then, Donald finished his inspection of Kerry’s communicator. Returning it to its owner, he looked at Kiran and shook his head:

“Nothing. Maybe we should put on a show? Let Hunter meet Sheppard by the capsule and give him his friends’ answer in sight of everyone. Hunter, what was it they told you to pass on to him again?”

“Uhm…” Kerry looked up, remembering. “Some code phrase. It was like: ‘The greens have a divine for jewelworking. Kusie ready to split for three. Plus two to current craft rank, need two thousand perception. Venus is ready.’”

“The greens must be the goblins,” Donald guessed. “Divine must mean an artifact. Kusie… Kusalarix?”

“Yes,” Kiran agreed. “One of the leaders of the Green League. Sheppard is in cahoots with the mafia. But ‘for three’? Three million? Cheap for such an artifact. And what’s Venus got to do with it, what’s she ready for?”

“Maybe a pseudonym of one of Sheppard’s allies,” Chloe suggested.

“Or enemies,” Kiran said. “Go through all his contacts both in Dis and real life. Look for living NPCs in the database. Maybe it’s one of Scyth’s mobster friends from the Green League. Hunter, are you sure of every word?”

“Not entirely, Mr. Jackson,” Kerry answered guiltily. “The connection was through a proxy comm, there was interference.”

“I know what it means!” Chloe said, sitting up suddenly. “The Venus statue with the missing arm! The divine artifact that gives a quest to restore the sculpture! Could Scyth have found it?”

“Perhaps so…” Kiran muttered. “Could Sheppard really have decided to take over the sex market? With Venus protecting him… No, something doesn’t add up here! Why would he do that? I mean, it’s obvious why, but why so urgently? He knew what he was risking…”

“I have another explanation!” Donald butted in. “Remember Sheppard’s first girlfriend? Eve o’Sullivan? The neighbor girl he spent a year and a half with in the sandbox, sitting on the bench outside the tavern?”

“Well?” Kiran murmured. “So what?”

“Her in-game nick was Aphrodite, the Greek name for the Roman goddess Venus!” Donald said, leaning forward. “I’ve been studying Alex’s profile…”

There was a dull knock from behind, but Octius was looking at Donald.

“Dig!” the director ordered. “Let Hunter put on a show and convey the message. Do you hear me, Hunter? What’s up with her?”

Kiran’s eyes widened. Octius turned and gasped: the girl was face-down on the table, her head on her arm, blood flowing from her nose.

“Mr. Jackson’s office!” Chloe shouted into her communicator. “Send an autodoc! Now!”

Donald jumped up and put a finger to the girl’s neck.

“There’s a pulse, but only just.”

“Get her cleaned up and send her to Sheppard!” Kiran ordered.

“The game day ends in half an hour!” Chloe pointed out. “If she doesn’t wake up, we’ll have to follow our initial plan…”

“Whatever. Do as we decided.” The initial wave of adrenaline from the Accelerant had passed, and Kiran was now on the come-down: he relaxed, closing his eyes and sitting back in his chair. “Donald, you will be nanny to Sheppard. Send Hunter somewhere far away. Chloe, prepare the media for a sensation. Octius… Well, you know what to do. You’re all dismissed.”

The medbot arrived and started treating the unconscious Kerry. Although only after carrying her out to the corridor — Kiran wanted to be left in peace. Chloe sped off to the media center and Donald went to get changed and get himself a new holo badge as assistant to Alex Sheppard.

Ten minutes later, when Octius was leaving the immersion level to go down to the media center, Otto Hinterleaf called him:

“I value your time, Guy, I’ll be brief. What’s the situation with my kid?”

“Sheppard? Disqualified for outside contact, Otto.”

“I see…” Hinterleaf sighed heavily. “Proven?”

“Yes, recorded on an assistant’s badge. The recording is not for the public, but it’s a serious violation, so we’ll show the video.”

“What can be done?”

“Nothing. Kiran made the decision, he won’t be dissuaded.”

“The viewers’ vote…”

“Won’t help.”

“Got it. Thanks, old friend.”

Hinterleaf hung up. Octius thought about how quickly